The Shadow in the North

An elderly lady loses her money on an investment; a conjuror is pursued by thugs; and a clairvoyant mentions the name of the richest man in Europe and his mysterious company. Seemingly unconnected events set Sally Lockhart on the trail of an evil far more awful than she could ever imagine. This thriller, by the author of The Ruby in the Smoke, evokes its 19th century setting and at the same time remains remarkably contemporary in the originality of its plot and larger-than-life characters.

People who bought this also bought...

The Ruby in the Smoke

An unabridged reading of Philip Pullman's nerve-shattering thriller, set in the murky streets and opium dens of Old London. When 16-year old Sally's father drowns in suspicious circumstances, she is left to fend for herself in Victorian London. Although she doesn't know it, she is already in terrible danger.

I Was a Rat!

"I was a rat!" So insists Roger. Maybe it's true. But what is he now? A terrifying monster rampaging in the sewers? The Daily Scourge is sure of it. A money-spinning fairground freak? He is to Mr. Tapscrew. A champion wriggler and a downy card? That's what Billy hopes. Or just an ordinary small boy, though a little ratty in his habits? Only three people believe this version of the story. Only one of them knows who Roger really is.

The Tiger in the Well

Sally is 25, and somebody wants to destroy her. She receives divorce papers from a man she has never met, let alone married - yet this trap is so well laid that she is powerless to prove otherwise. When custody of her precious daughter is awarded to this evil stranger, it is the beginning of a terrifying struggle in which Sally will have to fight, with a gun if necessary, for the freedom of her family.

Northern Lights (Dramatized)

The award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy is a breathtaking epic adventure spanning a multitude of worlds. Northern Lights, the opening installment, sees Lyra and her shape-changing daemon embark on a dangerous quest.

The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials Trilogy, Book 3

Here is a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the third book in Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials. Bringing the saga to a thrilling close, it reintroduces familiar characters such as Lyra, Will, Mrs Coulter, and Dr Mary Malone.

Poirot and Me

Actor David Suchet recalls his experience of playing Agatha Christie's world-famous detective, Hercule Poirot, for almost a quarter of a century. In the summer of 2013 David Suchet filmed his final scenes as Hercule Poirot. After 24 years in the role, he will have played the character in every story that Agatha Christie wrote about him (bar one, deemed unfilmable) and he will bid adieu to a role and a character that have changed his life.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Haruki Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing.

The Subtle Knife: His Dark Materials Trilogy, Book 2

The thrilling second book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, read by the author and a full cast. In this stunning sequel to Northern Lights, the intrepid Lyra Silvertongue and her daemon, Pantalaimon, find themselves in a shimmering, haunted other world – Cittagazze where soul-eating Spectres stalk the streets and wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky. Here she meets twelve-year-old Will Parry, a fugitive from a third universe.

Northern Lights: His Dark Materials Trilogy, Book 1

This is the first book in the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials, from Philip Pullman. Set in a parallel world very similar to our own, Northern Lights tells the compelling story of 12-year-old Lyra's quest to rescue her friend and find her father, aided by her daemon, an armoured bear, and a witch-queen.

The Subtle Knife (Dramatized)

The award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy is a breathtaking epic adventure spanning a multitude of worlds. The second installment, The Subtle Knife, introduces Will Parry, a young boy in search of his long-lost explorer father.

The Amber Spyglass (Dramatized)

The award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy is a breathtaking epic adventure spanning a multitude of worlds. In The Amber Spyglass, the third and final installment, the war between good and evil reaches a shattering conclusion.

The Tiger in the Well: Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 3

Sally Lockhart, trying to put her troubled past behind her after her fiance's death, has settled into a comfortable life with her daughter, Harriet, her career, and her London friends. But her world comes crashing down around her when a complete stranger claims to be both her husband and Harriet's father, casting doubt on her spotless reputation.

Publisher's Summary

An elderly lady loses her money on an investment; a conjuror is pursued by thugs; and a clairvoyant mentions the name of the richest man in Europe and his mysterious company. Seemingly unconnected events set Sally Lockhart on the trail of an evil far more awful than she could ever imagine.

This thriller, by the author of The Ruby in the Smoke, evokes its 19th century setting and at the same time remains remarkably contemporary in the originality of its plot and larger-than-life characters. An unabridged reading of Philip Pullman's nerve-shattering thriller.

I strongly advise you to read Book 1, The ruby in the smoke, first. This sequel will not disappoint you; it's a different story, but just as good. Sally, Jim and Fred are 6 years older, and their relationships and character development are intriguing. Some new characters are also fascinating. As for the story, it's brilliantly written with not a dull moment. Don't be fooled by Audible's blurb; Anton Lesser reads this book too. He could make a shopping list sound interesting, but this is no shopping list.

A dark and very fast-paced thriller, this book will have the listener gripped from start to finish. Capturing the feel of Victorian London, and the harsh atmosphere of it's underworld. Narrated in fine style by Anton Lesser.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Peter

SmedstorpSweden

4/6/11

Overall

"A really good book"

This is the 2nd in the series, the first book is called 'The Ruby in the Smoke' is not on audible at the moment. The narrator is really good and the characters engaging, over all a really enjoyable book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jaspal

Solihull, United Kingdom

7/31/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Beautifully narrated."

Aimed at a slightly older ya audience than the preceding story in this series I think. Still good though.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Diane F

Washington, UK

1/27/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Well written and performed"

Met expectations, I remember reading this years ago and half recalled it, but the reality exceeded my recollections in a way that the dark materials series didn't. I remember them as being much better than I found them on re-reading

Narrator was very good, all voices distinctive. Winds me up with some narrators when they mispronounce the simplest words, not a problem with this guy.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Nathalie Dottax

1/26/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Lovely detective story"

The story was nice but that acting made it hard for me to emerge myself in the story.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Chloe

Coventry UK

11/28/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"A Steampunk mystery with a tragic edge"

What made the experience of listening to The Shadow in the North the most enjoyable?

I had previously listened to the Ruby in the Smoke and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was pleased to find that the story of the characters continued in The Shadow in the North. This book takes place a couple of years after the first, and Sally has set herself up as an independent financial advisor. A customer visiting to complain about some bad advice leads her to start investigating a crooked firm and its shadowy owner alongside her friends from the previous story. They are drawn into a dark web of intrigue involving an ageing medium, a stage magician, a government minister who has fallen on hard times, a deformed seamstress and a lot of danger. The story never falters and the pace never lets up - I was gripped to the end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shadow in the North?

The end of story when Sally takes her revenge on Axel Bellman is very dramatic - I didn't expect it to be quite so explosive, but it fit in well with the steampunk theme.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

A tender moment between Sally and Fred, when she finally realises how much he means to her. You sympathise with him from the start of the novel as it is clear that he has been in love with her since he first saw her walking along the seafront and hid her in his photographer's tent in the first novel. She treats him rather badly in The Shadow in the North, though her reasons are somewhat understandable as she desperately wants to retain her independence at a time when married women effectively became the property of their husband. However it is also obvious that the bohemian Fred would never have tried to control Sally in that way, so the reader is rooting for him throughout.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This book made me weep real tears of sadness - I'm not going to say why as it is such as shocking moment and really changes the motivations of the characters after the event - you need to be suffering from the impact in the same way to truly empathise with their actions afterwards.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Miss

Stourbridge, United Kingdom

10/4/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Thriller of the deepest intrigue."

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Intriguing detective story bringing, mystery, laughter, love, tragedy,clarvoyancy, evil versus good.Gives an insite into the restrictions women had at the turn of the century.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sally Lockhart shrugged off the shackles that society inflicted on her and forged ahead with what she wanted out of life, with her faithful dog by her side.

What about Anton Lesser’s performance did you like?

Anton Lesser is fantastic as the narrator. I felt as if i was listening to a radio play. He made each character come alive that sometimes i questioned if it was only one man Narrating this story. I would certainly look out for anything else he has narrated.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Sandra Anthony

Ireland

6/2/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Thoroughly enjoyable"

Masterly writing and compelling story telling by Philip Pullman are brilliantly narrated by Anton Lesser. I don't think I've ever enjoyed an audiobook as much as this one. Anton Lesser's narration is absolutely fantastic. He brings every character to life.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Nadia

Beckenham, United Kingdom

4/13/13

Overall

"shadowy"

Not bad but not as good as the other pullman novels, anton lesser is a brilliant narrator as usual.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Gustav

London, United Kingdom

8/19/12

Overall

"Amazing book in an Amazing Series"

I love the whole Lockhard series. If you have seen the terrible first movie, Ruby in the Smoke, then don't worry. The books are nothing like the film. The book is superbly written and amazingly narrated.

However, I notice at the time of writing the review that the narrator has changed. It used to be Anton Lesser, who was amazing. Now the narrator is Philip Pullman himself. Check that before buying the book.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.